DRAMA OF WORKS
THE FEMALE PIRATE PROJECT
BUT WHY DID SHE BECOME A PIRATE...?
JUSTICE!
Grace O’Malley, “The Sea Queen of Connachtl”
1530-1603, Ireland
Grace O'Malley was a Celtic clan chiefman and a great politician. Legend has it that she kidnapped an Earl's grandson because they closed the gates on her and refused to ask her to dinner.
The Earl's castle still sets an extra place at the table to this day...
REVENGE!
Jeanne DiClisson, "The Lioness of Brittany"
1330-1359, Brittany/France
After the death of husband at the hands of French noblemen she considered friends, The Lioness took to the seas with her Black Fleet beheading as many of the bastards as she could find.
ADVENTURE & ESCAPE!
Anne Bonny and Mary “Mark” Read
1700-1782, Ireland; 1690-1721, English
Anne Bonny was a shady lady and came to piracy cause she wanted some excitement and daring in her life. Mary Read grew up as a boy in order to escape the constraints of a young girl alone in the world. They met completely by chance on Jack Rackham's ship. Both escaped execution by being pregnant. You'll have to come see the show to find out why Anne said to Jack, "If you had fought like a man, you need not be hanged like a dog."
POWER!
Ching Shih, "Widow of Zheng"
1775-1844, China
A former prostitute, Ching Shih is arguably the most successful pirate in history - not the most successful female pirate, but the most successful ever. She at one point was in command of over 1800 ships. She died an old woman operating a gambling house in Canton.
BLOODLUST!
(or cause she damn well could, that's why)
Sadie "the Goat" Farrell
Flourished in 1869 (other dates unknown),
New York, NY, USA
Sadie the Goat was prolific during the "Gangs of New York" time period. She was a street thug who turned to river piracy on the Hudson with a gang of men under her command. Come to the show to find out why she wore her own ear as a necklace...
The Female Pirate Project is generously supported by the following organizations...
